Pepi Ann Stern Kahn

Pepi Ann Stern Kahn passed away peacefully and comfortably with her two loving daughters at her side on Friday, August 9, 2024, from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 82. Pepi was a native Houstonian, born at St. Joseph Hospital on August 7, 1942, to Harold, Sr. and Rebecca (“Cissy”) Stern. She attended Southland Elementary, Johnston Junior High, and San Jacinto High Schools. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in biology. Pepi was an excellent student and was a Cowboy Sweetheart nominee and a member of the AEPhi sorority. As a young wife and mother, she practiced as a licensed medical technologist. Pepi was so well-loved, kind to everyone, sweet in spirit, and she was, by many accounts and fond remembrances, “the most beautiful” girl/woman of her generation. Even though she lived some portions of her life in California, Florida and New Hampshire, she remained close to her childhood friends and sorority sisters. She was intelligent, artistic, creative, magical, whimsical, a free spirit, had a big heart for all, was generous, and lived a good life. She was quick to laugh even through the last years of her life. Pepi loved dancing, traveling, tennis, games/puzzles, yoga, spiritual study, creating art, hosting movie nights and family gatherings. She always made time for her grandchildren and visited often. She shone with an internal bright light no matter where she went and spread warmth to everyone around her. She always loved a great joke and had an amazing sense of humor herself. Everyone loved her laugh, her bright smile and sparkling eyes. We will miss the way she made us all feel by being in her presence. The way she would always naturally pet our hair or rub our shoulders and arms. We will also miss the wisdom and love she would impart when you needed comforting or advice. She would comfort us all by saying, don’t sweat the small stuff, live life like it’s an adventure, laugh often, take your vitamins, wear your sunscreen, bring your sweater to the movie theater, and be sweet to each other. If she could, she would probably comfort us about her own passing. Pepi is survived by her daughters, Lee Ann Grossberg and Toni Grossberg Oreck; her sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Ronnie Trost; her grandchildren, Sandhya Krishnan Bayley (and husband Graham Bayley), Nikhila Krishnan, Keshav Krishnan, Carly Oreck, Naveen Krishnan, Jaya Krishnan, Max Oreck, Sadie Oreck; and her great grandson, Roman Bayley. She is also survived by her nieces, Leslie Irwin, Meredith Stern, Alison Stern and their spouses and children, and by her step-children, Ari Kahn, Jody Kahn, Morty Kahn, Lily Kahn and their spouses and children, as well as numerous cousins, and her former husband Marc Grossberg. Pepi’s significant other, Sal Romano, was with her until the very end. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rebecca “Cissy” Stern and Harold L. Stern, Sr.; her brother, Harold L. Stern, Jr.; her nephew, Larry Lefkowitz; and her former husband, Michael Kahn. The family is grateful to all of Pepi’s caregivers over the years, especially Christine Dubuque, Dafra Sanon, and Elsa Chambers. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 10:00 am in the Kagan-Rudy Chapel at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77074. For those who wish to attend by zoom, please visit https://hklaw.zoom.us/j/89161426563. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Pepi’s memory to Doctors Without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/), Oxfam (https://www.oxfamamerica.org/), The Gathering at Houston’s First Baptist - Pastoral Care (https://houstonsfirst.org/the-loop/event/the-gathering-place), or a charity of your choice.

Pepi Ann Stern Kahn

August 7, 1942 - August 9, 2024